Quilting - part of our heritage

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Published on Sunday, May 10, 2015

By Diane Kowalchuk

Publicity

The focus of Women’s Institute (WI) varies from group to group, and a “local” in Manitoba might not look exactly like a “local” in New Brunswick. Some cater more than others, some are the community’s only service organization, some focus on funding projects in developing countries, and the programs in others are mostly for self-development. Some spend their time lobbying and some put a lot of emphasis on crafts.

Rivers WI has always done a little of everything. The early institute took great pride in the handicraft achievements of its members. In 1959 members put together a book of quilt blocks for a national competition. This project, which won second place at the district level, is still intact and on display at Prairie Crocus Regional Library in Rivers. In 1960 the local entered the Sherrif-Horsey Competition for Bedroom Accessories and won first prize in the region and an honourable mention at the provincial level. We have a photograph of a very young-looking Myrtle Shanks accepting the award!

We are not as crafty as we used to be, but nevertheless, members turned their hands to quilting at the May meeting. Member Helen Stewart, an accomplished quilter, demonstrated the rudiments of hand quilting and handed each member nine cotton squares, a diagram, and needle and thread to make a block. The completed blocks will be made into a quilt. What fun! Members enjoyed this opportunity and were very impressed with the vast array of quilting work Helen has completed.

Three members of Rivers WI will be attending the provincial convention in Winnipeg May 7-9: Arenda van der Deen, Yvonne Gustafson and Dianne Kowalchuk. Dianne will also be attending the national WI convention in Fredericton, New Brunswick in June. 

Members recently donated seeds to the planting program at Rivers Elementary School and took part in a Veseys Seeds fundraiser. WI will be providing an award for the upcoming collegiate graduation and will be delivering Meals on Wheels in June. On June 12 members will travel to Brandon for a tour of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. If you would like to come along, please call Arenda at 204-826-2626 or Michelle at 204-328-7441. The next regular meeting will be held on Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. at the Kowalchuk home. The program will be on food literacy. There’s always lots going on at WI!